piros



Dec. 15, 1964 J. J. PIROS 3,161,143

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Sept. 28, 1962 A TTORNE Y5.

3,lbl,ld3 Parterttedfiec. 15, 1964 3,161,143 LIQUED DTSPENSER John I. Piros, Homewoud, llh, assignor to dinclair Etesearch, Ina, Wilmington, Del a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 226,311 7 tllaiins. (til. 133-2493) This invention is an improvement in a gasoline dispenser which solves several problems associated with gasoline dispensers now in general use. In particular, the dispenser in this invention has means to positively prevent the dispenser pump from losing its prime.

The prime of the pump of a gasoline dispenser is lost when the pump chamber is less than full, usually due to draining of gasoline from the pump chamber back to an'underground storage tank when the pump is not in operation. This loss of prime can be an annoying and time consuming problem, leading to delay in gasoline de livery, sputter and uneven flow. Surprisingly enough, in a field as mature and widely practiced as gasoline dispensing no adequate answer to the question of loss of prime has so far been olfered. It would appear at first glance that a simple check valve is all that is needed to prevent draining of gasoline from the pump chamber. However, a check valve system designed for use with other fluids often fails when used in gasoline dispensing. One difficulty encountered in gasoline dispensing is that the presence of hydrocarbon and additive components in the gasoline which may have-a dissolving or at least softening effect on organic scaling materials used in the check valve. Solid, gritty, corrosion products in gasoline havean eroding or plugging effect on valve parts. Another diificulty is the tendency of gasoline components to vaporize due to the pressure drop across an ordinary check valve. These factors have led to difiicultiesin solving the loss-of-prime problem by means of spring actuated check valves. to solve this problem has been the installation "of check valves (foot valves) on the lower end of the pipe which conveys gasoline to the dispenser. in such a location, the pressure of the head of gasoline in the dispenser and the pipe can often serve to close the check valve, but does not avoid thecorrosive and eroding effects of water and other c'ontaminantsand certain additives in the gasoline. Moreovenvsince such-foot valves are located in storage tanks buried in the ground their repair is timeconsuming and costly.

This invention provides a gasoline dispenser having a pump with a simple gate-way and spring-biased gate which I assures positive sealing of the pump chamber to prevent loss of prime. The gateway is arranged to substantially prevent loss of seal due to contaminants in the gasoline getting between the gateway and the gate. The gateway and gate are of relatively large size andthe spring is particularly weak to prevent pressure loss across the One serious commercial attempt gateway which would cause vaporization of the gasoline.

The gate is generally comprised of an arm which loosely supports a closure disc, and it is preferred that the closure disc be of a light, low-density material to insure against this pressure drop. The disc is made of materials suitable for resisting corrosive, eroding, and softening eifects of the gasoline and although the spring is suitable for flexing on the order of millions of times Without losing its effectiveness and requiring replacement, such replacementis relatively simple because of the above-ground accessibility of the gate. The invention can be built into the gasoline dispenser, thereby eliminating the. need for installation at the service station of foot valves, angle check or union check valves.

This invention comprises a gasoline dispenser having a housing including a suction line having a suction chamber between the pump chamber and a source of gasoline outside of the housing. The suction chamber is provided with a gateway for fluid passage and a gate which opens into the suction chamber and preferably provides a closure disc made of a rigid, gasoline-corrosion-resistant material having a density less than about 3. The gate is spring biased by a fiat spring preferably having a spring pressure of about 1 to 3 pounds, say, about 1.25 to 1.75 pounds. The spring may be of stainless or other gasoline-corrosion resistant steel. A carbon steel spring, for example, about 0.010 inch thick and about inches wide exerts a pressure of about 1% pounds. The suction chamber may be provided also with a strainer for con taminants downstream of the gateway. The suctionchamber is generally accessible for occasional removal or strainer debris but the construction and placement of the gate is such that frequent replacement, which is a recurring maintenance expense, is not required. The noted components can all he in a unitary dispenser housmg.

The gateway preferably is generally vertically arranged in a wall of the suction chamber so that debris in the gasoline stream does not lodge on the gate seat, preventing thorough sealing. The gateway may be arranged at a slight angle topermit a larger opening for a given gateway area; however, the gateway should generally not be at an angle of more than about 20 from the vertical. Usually, also, the gateway is raised somewhat in the wall above the fioor of the suction chamber to allow debris to gather at this door without affecting the gate operation.

The fluid gate hangs from a pivot located at the upper end of the gate and assumes the same vertical or angular position as the gateway. The fluid gate is so constructed that it opens due to suction applied by the pump, and closes and remains closed during non-operation of the pump due to a combination of gravity and spring forces on the gate itself and gravity on the gasoline being dispensed. The fluid gate generally comprises an arm which loosely holds the closure disc which may preferably be made of any corrosion-resistant material having a specific gravity less than about 3, such as aluminum, wood, nylon, phenolic resins, acetal resins, etc. The preferred disc uses a laminated product comprising a light rigid layer, such as aluminum, and a resilientlayer, arranged for the resilient layer to seat on the gateway. The resili ent layer is generally a gasoline-resistant rubber, such as Buna-N, which is a butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer marketed under a varietyof tradenames. Closing of the gate is urged by the use of a flat leaf spring which exerts a closing force of l to 3 pounds and which is located in a bent compressive postion by one end being against the roof of the suction chamber and pointing in the direction of liquid flow through the gate and the other end of the spring. being against the back of the gate. The spring passes between the pivot pin and the closure disc of the gate and is kept fromvertical movement out of position by a member on the arm which loosely projects through a hole in the spring. The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a preferred embodiment of the invention but is not to be considered as limiting. In the drawings, 7

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional representation of the pumping portion of a gasoline dispenser and FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line 2--Z of FIGURE 1.

The pump portion of a gasolinedispenser generally in'U.S.'Patent 2,330,634, incorporated herein by reference. The dispenser i provided with a liquid supply connection 12 which comprises part of the suction line leading to an outside source of gasoline (not shown) such as an underground tank. Gasoline flows from connection 12 to the reception chamber 15 whence it may flow through the gateway '18 when the gate is open. The

gateway is provided in the wall 22 which separates the reception chamber 15 from suction chamber 25. Frequently the wall 22 is a member presenting a smooth face to the chamber 25 and a smooth seat 27 to the gate 20.

Preferably, however, an annular groove 30 is machined '35. This bolt, in turn, passes through the plate 36 to which it is loosely held by means of the retaining ring 38. The plate 36 is suspended by the yoke 39 from the pin 42 around which the arm, comprising the yoke plate is, when pressure is applied to the gate, free to pivot. The ends of this pin 42 may be placed in cavity 44 in set screw 45 and in cavity 46 in the housing it). The fiat spring 48 fits between the pin 42 and the plate 36 and is given an L-shape by its extension along the roof 5d of the suction chamber 25. The spring may be kept from creeping out of position by means of the rivet 52 which is fastened to the plate 36 and which passes through a hole 53 in the spring 48. This rivet generally has a head which may pass through the hole 53 for assembly and disassembly but which will not pass through the spring in the position brought about by tension on the spring. Generally the head of the rivet will not fasten the spring rigidly to the plate 38. As mentioned, the pin 42 supports the gate 20 loosely, that is, except for the pressure of the spring, the gate 20 is free to swing or open into suction chamber 25 around pin 42 as an axis in response to suetion in the chamber 25. In the closed position the smooth face of gate 20 comes in intimate and sealing contact with the smooth seat 27 of wall 22. Also as mentioned, the

gate 20 may rest at a slight inclination to the vertical in the closed position by having the wall 22 at an angle to the vertical. Such a position affords a more positive seal. An angle of about 15 has been found satisfactory.

The pump has a rotor 55 and is generally of the im- -peller type. It is located in a pump chamber 58. Gasoline is drawn from the suction chamber 25 which may contain the strainer 69, positioned not to impede the gate from opening sufiicicntly to pass the gasoline through the gateway at the same rate that gasoline enters the reception chamber 15, which in the ordinary gasoline dispenser is about 12 to 15 gallons per minute. Gasoline passing through the strainer 6% may proceed, for example, by passages not shown, to and through the strainger 63, the pump chamber 58 and then to the discharge chamber 66 and passage as, and'other normal parts of a conventional gasoline dispenser, such as a vapor separating chamber,

a meter, hose, nozzle, etc. A by-pass conduit from the discharge chamber 66 back to the pump chamber 58 also is frequently provided. The by-pass arrangement is provided to protect the pump rotor and the motor (not shown) by which it is driven, from overloading when the pump is operated but gasoline is not actually being dispensed.

When gasoline is dispensed the pump is operating and rotation of pump rotor 55 which is provided with a circumferential series of blades, causes gasoline to flow from suction chamber 25 to pump chamber 58. The blades sweep gasoline from the chamber 58 to the pump discharge chamber 66. Operation of the pump reduces the pressure in suction chamber 25 and the greater pres sure existing in chamber 15, even if there be but a slight difference, is generally sufiicient to overcome the small pressure of the spring 48 and the small weight of the lowdensity gate 20, allowing the gate to swing open and allowing gasoline from the reception chamber 15 to enter the suction chamber 25. The gasoline flows horizontally against gate 20, which force causes further opening of the gate and full flow of gasoline through gateway 18. Ideally gateway 18 is at least of the same cross-sectional area as the supply connection 12, so as to cause no restriction in the flow. This flow of gasoline also carries any debris in the gasoline away from the seating surface 27, of the gate.

When operation of the pump ceases, the gasoline in the reception chamber 15 and the suction chamber 25 is relatively quiescent, at least momentarily, but a back pressure develops due to the weight of gasoline inthe dispenser and especially in the pipe leading from the underground tank. This back pressure and the action of the spring serve to close the gate 20. The generally vertical positioning of the wall 22 allows any debris on the seat 27 to fall out of the way of the gate 20. Thus, when gasoline is not being dispensed, gate 20 is held tightly against seating surface 27 by its own weight, by the force of the spring, and, more importantly, by the action of gravity on the volume of gasoline in suction chamber 25 which in the absence of the gate would drain back through chamber 15 to the source of gasoline.

Thus, this invention by presenting a vertical or nearly vertical fluid gateway and a simple, light, pivoting, weaklyspring-biased gate, provides a service station gasoline pump with means to prevent the gasoline from draining from the suction pipe to the tank, and eliminates the need for a separate field installation of a suction line foot valve.

It is claimed:

1. A liquid dispenser comprising a pump and a suction inlet for connecting the pump to a source of liquid below the pump, a suction chamber communicating with the suction inlet and provided with a generally vertically arranged gateway at a level above the floor of the suction chamber, a gate having a rigid closure disc and being pivotally mounted by a pin positioned above said gateway, said closure disc resting by gravity on the gateway to close the gateway when the pump is not in operation and which gate is free to swing into the said suction chamber when said pump is operating, and said gate being weakly biased to the closed position by a flat spring located in a bent compressive position by one end of said spring being against the upper part of said suction chamber and pointing in the direction of liquid flow through the gate and the other end of said spring being against the back of said gate and said spring passing between said pin and the closure disc of said gate.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the spring exerts a pressure of about 1 to 3 pounds.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the closure disc is made of a material having a density less than about 3.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the gate comprises an arm pivotally holding said closure disc to said pin, said disc being loosely mounted on said arm with said other end of said spring being held against said arm.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the said other end of said spring is held against said arm by means preventing vertical travel of said spring past said pin.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein the spring holding means is a member on said arm which loosely projects through a hole in said spring.

7. A liquid dispenser comprising a pump and a suction inlet for connecting the pump to a source of liquid below the pump, a suction chamber communicating with the suction inlet and provided with a generally vertically arranged gateway at a level above the floor of the suction chamber, a gate which comprises an arm loosely holding a rigid closure disc made of a material having a density less than about 3, and'being pivotally mounted by a pin positioned above said gateway, said closure disc resting by gravity on the gateway to close the gateway when the pump is not in operation and which gate is free to swing into the said suction chamber when said pump is operating, said gate being weakly biased to the closed position by a flat spring which exerts a pressure of about 1 to 3 pounds, located in a bent compressive position by one end of said spring being held against the upper part of said suction chamber and pointing in the direction of liquid flow through the gate and the other end of said spring being held against said arm by a member on said References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2699,907

Smith et a1. Ian. 18, 1955 2,846,181 Orelind et al Aug. 5, 1958 2,901,000 Wright Aug. 25, 1959 

1. A LIQUID DISPENSER COMPRISING A PUMP AND A SUCTION INLET FOR CONNECTING THE PUMP TO A SOURCE OF LIQUID BELOW THE PUMP, A SUCTION CHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH THE SUCTION INLET AND PROVIDED WITH A GENERALLY VERTICALLY ARRANGED GATEWAY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THE FLOOR OF THE SUCTION CHAMBER, A GATE HAVING A RIGID CLOSURE DISC AND BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BY A PIN POSITIONED ABOVE SAID GATEWAY, SAID CLOSURE DISC RESTING BY GRAVITY ON THE GATEWAY TO CLOSE THE GATEWAY WHEN THE PUMP IS NOT IN OPERATION AND WHICH GATE IS FREE TO SWING INTO THE SAID SUCTION CHAMBER WHEN SAID PUMP IS OPERATING, AND SAID GATE BEING WEAKLY BIASED TO THE CLOSED POSITION BY A FLAT SPRING LOCATED IN A BENT COMPRESSIVE POSITION BY ONE END OF SAID SPRING BEING AGAINST THE UPPER PART OF SAID SUCTION CHAMBER AND POINTING IN THE DIRECTION OF LIQUID FLOW THROUGH THE GATE AND THE OTHER END OF SAID SPRING BEING AGAINST THE BACK OF SAID GATE AND SAID SPRING PASSING BETWEEN SAID PIN AND THE CLOSURE DISC OF SAID GATE. 